The UK’s leading independent hotel management company has kicked off the third year of its innovative Pyramid Programme, designed to fast-track promising members of management.

Redefine|BDL Hotels (RBH) introduced the programme – which sees promising Heads of Department personally mentored and developed to take on Deputy General Manager roles – in 2016. Over the past two years, 14 participants have progressed into more senior roles.

The class of 2018 ‘Pyramiders’ were introduced to their personal mentors and taken through their first of five masterclasses at Norton Park Hotel on 8 and 9 February.

The first masterclass will focus on leadership, allowing participants to complete in-depth analysis of their own leadership skills, identifying areas of development to become great leaders.

And as the group got to grips with the programme, RBH also announced the opening of applications for the newest addition to its talent development strategy.

RBH – which has a portfolio of more than 75 properties across the UK – is offering young people aged 18 years and over the chance to apply for one of 25 places on its foundation degree Management Trainee course.

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to earn and learn, working within the hotel industry whilst gaining a recognised, formal qualification from University College Birmingham. The course is open to those already working for RBH, as well as external candidates.

Niki Fincham, Redefine|BDL Hotels’ Group Learning and Development Manager, said: “As our portfolio and employee numbers continue to grow, nurturing and developing talented individuals at all stages in their career becomes even more of a key focus for us.

“We want to attract and retain the best talent in the UK hotel industry, and investing in individual development is vital for this. We’re delighted to kick off the third year of our successful Pyramid Programme, which has seen 38 candidates given the opportunity to develop their skills in preparation for the next stage of their senior management career.

“It’s also vital that we look to the Heads of Department, Deputy General Managers and General Managers of the future – and that’s where our new foundation degree Management Trainee Course comes in. It gives young people the opportunity to earn, learn and transform into the next generation of hotel industry line managers.

“The candidates who join us this year to build the foundations of their career could very well find themselves becoming ‘Pyramiders’ in the next couple of years.”

Lucy Hartnell, Deputy General Manager at Holiday Inn Express Cheltenham – which is managed by RBH – completed the Pyramid Programme in 2017.

She said: “Pyramid is fantastic programme – taking part provided me with the wealth of knowledge and skills I needed to transform my career at Redefine|BDL Hotels, as a manager, leader and as an individual. I now have a better understanding of my impact on the business, which is invaluable.”

RBH has also revealed an additional development programme for Deputy General Managers looking to take the next step in their career, to General Manager level. The ExCel Programme will launch later this year.